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Orange County families now have the opportunity to enroll their children in an authentic, mixed-age Montessori program all the way from infancy through elementary school (1st – 6th grade) and middle school (7th & 8th grade).

In Elementary School and Middle School at LePort Montessori Irvine Spectrum, your child will:

Be challenged at his or her pace—with individual or small group lessons, paced to match each child’s ability and skill level. For example, academically strong students can work at an accelerated pace in math or any subject, with the opportunity to start more advanced work, for example algebra and geometry while in middle school.

Engage in a rich curriculum. We offer an outstanding math program combining the unique Montessori math materials with additional curriculum–so children learn to think numerically, understand math concepts instead of memorizing procedures by rote, and so they love math. Our language arts program includes systematic study of phonics in the early years, as well as auditory, individualized spelling, explicit instruction in grammar, and systematic development of vocabulary. LePort Montessori students from elementary through middle school are guided to explore history, with deep study of human cultures from prehistory to the present, study observation-based science told as intriguing mysteries with hands-on labs experiences and receive a thorough education in geography. In small-group literature circles, children learn to delight in great full-length books (not excerpts), to identify themes, plots, and characterization, and to strengthen their understanding of human nature by discussing the heroic people and stories with the guidance of their passionate teachers. Enrichment opportunities, from visual arts to music, from performances to fieldtrips, from community leadership and self-government to mentoring opportunities, are integrated into the Montessori experience.

Acquire strong social and executive function skills. As anyone who has a hiring role can attest, many young adults lack the ability to organize their own work, manage time, complete projects independently, exercise good judgment, and manage to work on or lead teams. The mixed-age Montessori elementary and middle school communities excel at developing these skills in children–for example, through community meetings, they practice the ability to plan and execute longer student-initiated class projects, and working in small groups throughout the day allows them to design, implement, and complete independent academic follow up to the lessons they have received. They learn to work well in small groups and pairs throughout the school day.

Be able to enjoy being a child. Through the elementary program, we assign no or limited homework. A child who works actively from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm typically will have their afternoons free–to enjoy sports, tackle projects around the house, explore with the family, to read or practice music, or to just engage in unstructured play. Research shows no causal links between the amount of homework assigned in elementary school and a child’s academic accomplishments. That’s why we don’t send home worksheets, but instead encourage children to use their time to more deeply explore their own areas of interest after school. By middle school, students will increasingly have homework, building up to 6-8 hours per week, to prepare them for typical high school work loads.

Get ready for success in high school and life. Montessori middle school students at LePort benefit from personalized high school counseling from teachers who know them intimately, so they can thoughtfully choose the right high school path, and be prepared–academically, emotionally, and socially–to not only be admitted to their high school of school of choice, but also succeed there.

All of this is part of our mission at LePort Montessori: to help children gain what we call Knowledge for Life: the essential knowledge, thinking skills and strength of character needed to flourish as joyous children today, and as successful adults tomorrow.

LePort Montessori Irvine Spectrum

North Campus:
1 Technology Drive, Bldg. A
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 544-1047
irvinespectrumnorth@leportschools.com

South Campus:
1 Technology Drive, Bldg. H, Ste. 100
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 544-8859
irvinespectrumsouth@leportschools.com

Discover the benefits of Montessori Elementary

With Montessori Elementary at LePort, children can continue in Montessori school from 1st – 6th grade. Watch this video and learn how different elementary school can and should be!

Our Elementary and Middle School classrooms are carefully prepared, welcoming environments, very different from what you expect to see in a traditional school. Instead of desks facing a whiteboard, they are large, bright spaces with different work areas (individual and group desks, different sized tables, reading corners and work rugs), lesson tables and white boards arranged to allow for small-group and all-group gatherings. Classrooms have pets and plants the children take care of. They have musical instruments, arts materials, science areas with microscopes and specimens. Our goal is to create carefully prepared environments that allow children to feel comfortable, supported and nurtured so they can do their most productive, deeply engaged work.

Our team of passionate Elementary and Middle School educators are excited to introduce families to the life-changing benefits of Montessori for the elementary and middle school years. Our school leaders bring with them profound and unique educational backgrounds: Dr. Eric Daniels, our Head of School, taught for a dozen years at three top US universities, and joined LePort initially as a teacher. Knowing that the roots of student success in college came from the thinking skills honed in childhood and early adolescence, he eagerly transitioned to the programs at LePort to work in that area. Ms. Rhonda Munro, our Upper School Director (Elementary and Middle School), holds Montessori credentials from both AMI and AMS training programs, and has a rich 30+-year background teaching and leading Montessori programs from primary through middle school, in Canada and in the US. Together they are eager to help you discover whether a Montessori elementary and middle school education is right for your child.

Schedule a Tour

Contact us today to request a tour and to receive information about our programs and special offers.

By providing us with your phone number, you consent to being contacted by LePort Montessori and/or its affiliated schools regarding their educational programs, whether such contact is by phone, autodialer, recorded message, or text. Please note: Your consent is not required as a condition of enrollment.

Quick Facts and Admissions Process

Irvine Spectrum Elementary and Middle School

One school for the entire family: authentic Montessori from infant daycare through middle school (ages 3 months – 8th grade)

A strong Montessori elementary and middle school program to give your child a great learning community of peers: two mixed-age lower elementary (1st – 3rd grade) and two upper elementary (4th – 6th) classes each, with around 20-24 students each, and one middle school class (7th & 8th grade)

Montessori-trained head teachers in each classroom, supported by junior teachers and/or subject-matter expert teachers, for an effective 1:12 or better teacher-to-student ratio. Head teachers have either AMI or high-quality AMS Montessori training.

Large, light-filled classrooms with many different work spaces (different size tables, individual and clustered desks, rugs, reading corners, science stations)

An expansive elementary and middle school play yard, where children can be physically active doing everything from climbing, swinging, playing soccer or basketball, and participating in high-energy games of dodgeball with their teachers

Convenient central Orange County location: Located in Irvine, right by the Irvine Spectrum Center, at the I405 and I5 merge. Within a 20 minute drive from many Orange County cities: our students commute from Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Dana Point, Yorba Linda, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo and many other southern and central Orange County communities.

Limited needs-based financial aid available.

Enrolling year-round (space permitting): touring, accepting applications, conducting assessments and starting students throughout the school year. Assessment visits take from a half day (for lower elementary) to a full day (upper elementary & middle school).

Elementary and Middle School Staff

Iumari Castillo-Urrego

Head Montessori Teacher (Elementary)

Iumari is originally from Colombia and came to the United States at the age of 12. She is fluent in Spanish, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. She is married and a mother of two college graduates, Ian and Natalie, both of whom attended a Montessori school through eighth grade. When Ian was in Lower Elementary, Iumari taught Spanish lessons in his class and fell in love with the Montessori Method. By the end of his second grade year, she pursued her own Montessori journey and has never been happier. Iumari has taught at both the Lower and Upper Elementary levels, and has many years of experience as a lead teacher. She enjoys a variety of hobbies, including cooking, painting, reading, biking, hiking, making ceramics, and taking weekly trips to the beach.

Afsaneh Namiranian

Assistant Teacher

Afsaneh Namiranian (Afi) is from Tehran, Iran. She has been a certified Montessori teacher since 2014, and received her degree in Houston, Texas. Ms. Afi worked in Montessori schools for five years, before moving to Irvine, California in 2016. While she was working in Irvine Valley College, she finished her degree in child development. Ms. Afi loves to work with children because they give her positive energy. In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog, and loves to travel.

Olivia Lacefield

Head Montessori Teacher (Elementary)

Ms. Olivia Lacefield was born and raised in Southern California. Wanting to be a teacher from a young age, Ms. Olivia studied at Western Governors University and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. Ms. Olivia has been working in Montessori settings since 2018. She is currently in the process of completing her certification in Lower and Upper Elementary Education at the Prepared Montessorian Institute. Ms. Olivia has over 10 years of experience educating children ages 0-12 years, most recently with a concentration in teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) students within the Montessori community. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Olivia loves art and has managed community art projects within Orange County, including mural painting and set design. In her free time, she enjoys reading at the beach, shopping for plants and snacks at Trader Joe’s, crafting, and studying American Sign Language.

Masha Karbovskaya

Junior Montessori Teacher

Masha is a passionate educator with a strong background in mathematics and economics. She holds a Master’s Degree in mathematics from Moscow State University and a Master’s of Arts in Economics from New Economic School in Moscow. While working as an IT and business analyst at Accenture, Masha discovered her true calling in education. Over the years, she has been involved in various teaching roles, including English instruction for adults and young children. Additionally, she has served as a math teacher and Montessori teacher in different Montessori schools in Ithaca, New York. Her dedication to the Montessori Method led her to earn Elementary Montessori credentials in 2019. Beyond the classroom, Masha is an active member of her community. She runs a math circle for local children and volunteers as a leader for a competitive math club. She also serves on the board of her children’s swim team. In her leisure time, Masha enjoys running and handwork hobbies, and is always eager to learn something new. Spending quality time with her three children is one of her greatest joys as they explore the world of knowledge together.

Fiore Mastrangelo

Assistant Teacher

Fiorella Mastrangelo is a native Spanish speaker from Argentina who earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology in her home country. Specializing in creating supportive and inclusive learning spaces, her expertise in the field equips her with skills in emotional intelligence, behavioral management, and student assessment. With experience as a special education teacher, Fiorella has mastered the art of crafting individualized educational strategies. In her free time, she loves going to the beach and spending time with family and friends. Fiorella is very excited to be part of the LePort Spectrum North team.

Rafiya Qidwai-Khan

Head Montessori Teacher (Elementary)

Ms. Rafiya Qidwai-Khan has had a passion for teaching since childhood. During high school, she volunteered at a special needs school, assisted on week-long field trips for younger students, and led children’s programs at her local library. Born and raised in the UK, Ms. Rafiya earned her BA (Hons.) in Geography and History from King’s College London, an MA in International Relations from the University of Sussex, and a TEFL certification from International House.

Her interest in personalized education grew when she homeschooled her two eldest children. Motivated to offer learning based on ability rather than age, she discovered the Montessori approach and found it aligned perfectly with her values. Ms. Rafiya completed her Montessori training through IAPM, earned Early Childhood Education credits, and completed training in Special Needs Education in Montessori. She has served as head teacher for primary, elementary, and middle school students.

Since joining LePort, Ms. Rafiya has enjoyed connecting with students and teachers across classrooms. She strives to create a nurturing, well-prepared environment where children can develop their skills, grow intellectually, and maintain a love of learning. Outside of school, she likes spending time with her family and friends. She enjoys playing with her two cats, hiking, road trips, beach walks, reading, drawing, board games, and trying new cuisines.

Katherine Tinio

Assistant Teacher

Ms. Kat was born and raised in Orange County, California. Her passion for helping others led her to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work. Since 2018, she has been working with children and infants in various capacities, from being an inclusion facilitator in the YMCA to being a social worker helping families, and she now appreciates the Montessori classroom environment. She has her Early Childhood Education units from Theoria Technical College and is working towards the AMI Montessori orientation course for 6-12 year olds from the Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies this September 2025. In her spare time, she enjoys learning other languages, shopping, and trying new restaurants.

Cassandra Kolacinski

Head Montessori Teacher (Middle School)

Mrs. Kolacinski was born and raised in Orange County. She received her B.A. degree from the University of California-Irvine in Psychology and Social Behavior. After working for a year for a sales and marketing company, she decided to go back to school to pursue her true passion of teaching. She went back to the University of California-Irvine and graduated with her M.A in Teaching, along with a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. She later added a Single Subject Mathematics Credential.

Mrs. Kolacinski has taught Math 6, Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1 in San Diego County and Los Angeles County, she is ecstatic to have returned to her native Orange County! She is very excited to be working at LePort and truly believes in their teaching principles and approach. Mrs. Kolacinski hopes to create a love and excitement for learning in her students, by making learning meaningful, relevant and enjoyable!

Outside of the classroom, she enjoys traveling, trying new things and spending time with her husband and dog, Layla.

Robin Cheney

Head Montessori Teacher (Middle School)

Robin was born in New York, but spent the first few years of her life in Europe, where she attended a Montessori School in Amsterdam. She always knew she wanted to be a teacher. In 1996, after graduating from Cal Poly Pomona with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and a minor in Art History, Robin fell in love with Montessori’s educational philosophy. Her first teaching job was in a program that aimed to mainstream deaf and hard of hearing students, so she acquired skills in sign language. She spent three years teaching lower elementary, three years teaching upper elementary, and then discovered her true passion was in working with middle schoolers, teaching all subjects. Robin has really enjoyed working with adolescents since the early 2000s, and one of her favorite things is for students to visit after high school and beyond and share their successes with her. In 2012, Robin appeared on Jeopardy! in the Teacher’s Tournament, and she is always looking for fun new experiences like that one. She spent a summer in the cloud forest of Ecuador, teaching English to the residents of a small village. In her free time, she is an avid reader who loves to travel, cook, and volunteer.

Lauren Goldenberg

Head Montessori Teacher (Middle School)

Lauren Goldenberg was born and raised in Orange County. She attended a local Montessori school from 18 months through middle school, where she studied under Robin Cheney. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art & Design from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a Master of Fine Arts from UC Irvine. Ms. Lauren is a nationally-exhibited artist, showing work in galleries across Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Tennessee. Her work has been reviewed in the Los Angeles Times and Hyperallergic Magazine. She is an experienced educator, who previously worked with elementary and high school students.

Ms. Lauren found her passion teaching the fundamentals of drawing and painting at the undergraduate level at various universities, where her teaching philosophy was heavily influenced by Montessori pedagogy. She is excited to join the LePort Montessori team and to have the opportunity to work with Montessori students in a way that feels like a “full circle moment” in her career. In her free time, Ms. Lauren makes paintings in her private Los Angeles art studio, enjoys cooking, and goes to the beach with her partner and dog, Murphy.

Schedule a Tour

Contact us today to request a tour and to receive information about our programs and special offers.

By providing us with your phone number, you consent to being contacted by LePort Montessori and/or its affiliated schools regarding their educational programs, whether such contact is by phone, autodialer, recorded message, or text. Please note: Your consent is not required as a condition of enrollment.

© Copyright 2023, LePort Montessori
Headquartered in Campbell, California, Spring Education Group is majority-owned by investment funds administered by Primavera Holdings Limited, an investment firm owned by Chinese persons and principally based in Hong Kong with operations in the United States, China and Singapore.

Stay in touch with LePort Montessori

Please fill out the form to receive additional info, as well as invitations for upcoming event. If you share your phone number, our admissions team will call to answer your questions or set up a tour.

By providing us with your phone number, you consent to being contacted by LePort Montessori and/or its affiliated schools regarding their educational programs, whether such contact is by phone, autodialer, recorded message, or text. Please note: Your consent is not required as a condition of enrollment.